Manchester United’s desire to field an academy graduate in every matchday squad looks in safe hands while Scott McTominay and Marcus Rashford are at the club.
On Tuesday, that trust was strengthened when McTominay committed his long-term future to United, signing a new contract that runs until 2025 with the option of a further year.
The new deal is a reward for the 23-year-old’s determination since breaking into the first-team squad in 2017.
????️ Ole on @McTominay10: "He's been part of the club for so long so we're delighted he sees his long-term future here, as he's developed so much over the past few years.
"He's such a humble, hard-working boy with the Manchester United DNA, and he's a leader on the pitch."#MUFC pic.twitter.com/WWSDlv5RhZ
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) June 23, 2020
It is also a reminder that, try as you might by spending in the transfer market, the answer you are looking for can often come from within.
Promoted by Mourinho, trusted by Solskjaer
“When the kids are good and have potential, there is no problem,” Jose Mourinho said in July 2017, two months after the then United manager started four youngsters in their final Premier League match of the season against Crystal Palace.
McTominay had already made his United bow off the bench against Arsenal, but he was joined by Josh Harrop, Demetri Mitchell and Joel Pereira in making his full debut for the 2-0 win over Palace.
Mourinho saw McTominay as a leading light from the United academy, and predicted he would be among “half a dozen” home-grown players featuring regularly in the years to come.
To fulfil this prophecy Mourinho had to play his own part, and in the second half of the 2017-18 season the United boss handed a 21-year-old McTominay seven Premier League starts with a further six off the bench.
Andreas Pereira’s own emergence, and the arrival of Fred in the summer of 2018, hindered McTominay’s prospects going into the 2018-19 season, but faith was restored in the Scotsman when Mourinho was sacked and in came Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
By April 2019, McTominay was named United’s player of the month, a spell which saw him score his first senior goal against Wolves, and he has gone on to become a regular when fit in 2019-20.
“Scott has never ever let us down and he never disappoints when he plays,” Solskjaer said after the Wolves match. “Tonight was another very, very fine performance by Scotty. So, it won’t be hard to see him play many, many games for Man United, because he has got such a great mentality.”
United DNA
As a former player and reserves coach, Solskjaer – who got the top job because of such credentials – is clearly enamoured with ‘Scotty’, who epitomises the United way.
Here is a local lad, born in Lancaster, playing through merit at the only club he has ever known. He oozes United ‘DNA’, a point Solskjaer was somewhat derided for in April last year, but one which reemphasised a time-old tradition at Old Trafford of fielding academy products.
Solskjaer has shown faith in McTominay this season (Photo: Getty)On Tuesday, Solksjaer echoed these sentiments, and his own 2019 comments, when revelling in McTominay’s new contract.
“He’s been a part of the club for so long, Scotty, we’re delighted he sees his future here, immediate and long term,” Solskjaer said.
“He knows what it takes to go through the ranks, a leader on the pitch and we’re very, very happy to come together and work towards winning trophies together.
“It’s five years plus an option and Scotty has been developing so much over the last few years. We’re excited to come in and work with him, such a humble and hard working boy, with Man United DNA.”
This obsession with DNA saw United surpass 4,000 straight matches with a home-grown player in the matchday squad back in December.
It is a constant cycle, and McTominay’s extension is proof it will keep on turning for years to come.
from Football – inews.co.uk https://ift.tt/2NnwYJQ
Post a Comment